FAQ

What is Parkour?

The physical discipline of training and conditioning your body to be able to move from any point to any point in the quickest, safest, most efficient way possible, overcoming all obstacles in your path.

Chad Zwadlo, one of the owners of Fight or Flight Academy, explains what Parkour is, and isn't, as well as how our classes work.

Chad Zwadlo demonstrates what true Parkour is in this continuous run through the U of M campus.

What is Freerunning?

Freerunning uses all of the movements of Parkour, but also combines them with movements from many other disciplines such as gymnastics, breakdancing, martial arts, etc. Freerunning is generally considered to be the more creative side of Parkour, doing things that aren't necesarily the most efficient, but that look cool.

This video from the Fight or Flight Academy Pro Team demonstrates what Freerunning can look like.

Do you have a water fountain?

No, you should plan to bring a water bottle. We sell water and sports drink at the gym.

Do you take credit cards?

Yes, we take all forms of credit cards, as well as cash or check.

Do you sell gift cards?

Yes, we do! You can purchase gift cards HERE, or in person. Gift cards can be used on anything we do at Fight or Flight, including memberships, events, merchandise, etc.

I’ve never done anything like this before, can I still participate?

Absolutely! Our classes are designed to teach to whoever comes in, even with absolutely zero experience. We teach everything through progressions so you’ll never be pushed too far past your limits. Our goal is to grow the sports of Parkour and Freerunning as much as we can, so we wanted the gym to be completely accessible to the very beginner skill levels. We recommend everyone come to our FREE intro class. After you try the intro class, the instructor will guide you through the next steps.

Is the facility safe?

The facility is designed to be as realistic as possible as if you were training downtown in the city. So no, it’s not necessarily “safe.” It is our job to teach you to be safe in your movements and not have to rely on being in a safe, padded environment.

Do you have any discounts available?

Yes, we have several discounts available. We have family discounts, paying in advanced discounts, and public service discounts.

Do you have a trampoline/foam pit/spring floor?

We are not a gymnastics facility. We want our students to be able to take what they learn at Fight or Flight and immediately be comfortable using those skills in an outside, real world environment. You learn to do things on a trampoline or spring floor or into a foam pit, you haven’t really learned how to do those things. So no, we don’t have it.

What if I’m late for class?

Classes start promptly at the scheduled time. If you are late, you might not be able to participate in class. It is up to the discretion of the instructor teaching the class if they will allow you to join in. Generally if you are more than 10min late, you will not be allowed to participate in class.

If I miss a class can I do a make-up class?

Yes. There are different options depending on the membership you are signed up for.

Junior Parkour - You may attend any other Junior Parkour class during the week. Let the person in the office know you are there for a makeup class.

Youth Parkour - You may attend any other Youth Parkour class during the week. Let the person in the office know you are there for a makeup class.

Teen/Adult Level 1 - Please send us an email at contact@fightorflightacademy.com with the date of the class you have/will miss to get a list of dates to come in for that class subject. For scheduled closings, your class will roll over one week. No need to schedule a makeup class for scheduled closings.

Teen/Adult Level 2 & 3 - You may attend any other Level 2 or 3 class during the week. If you miss one or both of your classes during the week, we are unable to schedule a makeup day for you. All these classes run on a 4-month rotation, so you will just have to wait until that class subject comes around again.

What is the difference between an "A" class and a "B" class in the 'Level 2 - Basics' program?

There is no inherent difference between an "A" class and a "B" class. They are simply split so that each student receives the proper curriculum each week. Each "A" class for that week will cover the same skills, and each "B" class for that week will cover different skills than the "A" class. You may take a "B" class first, if that fits your schedule better. You may also take both the "A" class and the "B" class in the same day.

Can I take multiple classes in a row?

Yes, you can! Many of our students are at the gym for several hours in a row, multiple times a week. How often and how long you want to be at the gym is up to you. We have some membership options that allow you to take unlimited classes, as well as have unlimited free time to train on your own.